Apparatus for synchronization



Dec. 18, 1923.

o 1 a m 8 x U a. t .1 m

m1 N02 .wm A No MH 0 RV wmm 4 A w .wl a Hum r 1.. A H WW 8 i A m Dec. I 8 T923.

H. A. JOHNSON APPARATUS FOR SYNCHRONIZATION Filed Nov. 2. 1921 mum 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 &\\\\\ \\\\\k\\\\\\% llVVfNTO/Y:

Dec. 18 1923-. 1,478,230

H. A. JOHNSON APPARATUS FOR SYNCRRONIZATION Filed Nov. 2. 1921 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 /N VF/IVTO Y.

a, Waluu Dec. 18,1923.

1,478,230 H. A. JOHNSON APPARATUS FOR SYNGHRONI ZATIOII Filed NOV. 2 1921 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Yam/g ATT'y.

Patented Dec. 18, 1923.

UNITED STATES HAROLD AUBREY JOHNSON, 0F BRISTOL, ENGLAND.

API'ARATUS FOR SYNCHRONIZATION.

Application filed November 2, 1921.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HAROLD AUBREY J OHNSON, of 81 Dongola Road, Bishopston, Bristol, England, a subject of the King of Great Britain and Ireland, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for Synchronization, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to synchronizing apparatus and more particularly to apparatus for sychronizing notes or word sounds given out by gramophones, phonographs and other mechanically operated musical instruments with movements and motions represented on cinema screens.

The object of this invention is to provide an improved apparatus which will attain this end.

Apparatus made in accordance with this invention is characterized by the features set forth in the following claims, and is exemplified by the followin description, reference being had to t accompanying drawings, in which: v I

Fig. 1 is a plan of one form, of apparatus madev in accordance with this invention;

Fig. 2 is an elevation of Fig. 1 looking in the direction of arrow A, withv the. sprocket removed;

Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation taken on the line BB of Fig. 1 looking in, the direction: of arrow O; r

Fig. 4 is a sectional elevation taken on line B B of Fig. 1 looking in the-direction of arrow D;

Fig. 5 is an elevation, of Fig. 1 looking in thedirection of arrow E;

Fig. 6 is a sectional elevation taken. on line FF- of Fig. 1 looking in the direction. of arrow G.

Fig. 7 is a diagrammatic ensemble draw-- ing of the cinematograph, synchronizing apparatus and gramophone.

On the base a. of the synchronizing apparatus is mounted a spindle bin bearings c (1. Near one end of the spindle b is a ratchet wheel 6. The other end of the spindle b is screw threaded at f. Engaging with thread.

f is a threaded sleeve 9 integral with a toothed wheel h. A coil spring 7' onthe spindle b is anchored to the ratchet wheel 6 at k and to the sleeve 9 at m. On the base a is mounted a spindle n in bearings 00. The spindle 12, carries a governor p and. a worm q. The worm q driven from the Serial No. 512,290.

shaft 1' through the toothed wheels and pinion t and worm o, and the toothed wheel h is driven by a pinion w on the shaft '1'. On the spindle n is a brake disc 00 which is adapted to be moved in the direction of the dotted arrow when the governor p acts under centrifugal force.

On the base a is disposed a guide 2 in which is mounted a sliding yoke 3 the position of which is adapted to be adjusted by a bolt 4 mounted in a bearing 5 and engaging a thread in the yoke 3. In the yoke 3 is pivoted a bell-crank lever 6, 7 The arm 7 carries brake blocks 8 adapted to bear on the disc 00 and the arm 6 carries an adjustable extension 9 provided with a stud 10. On the bed a is mounted a rack 11 adapted to engage with a pinion 12 which carries a pointer or indicator 13. The rack 11 is provided with an anti-friction roller 14 adapted to bear against the face of the toothed wheel 71., and an arm 15 provided with a slot 16 which coacts with the stud 10 on the extension 9. On the bed a is mounted an electromagnet 17 provided withterminals 18. The armature 19 is pivotally mounted on, a forked bracket 20. The armature carries a pawl 21 extending over and coacting with the ratchet wheel e. A coil spring 22 effects the, return of the pawl 21 and a coil s ring 23 on the spindle of the pinion 12 eeps the roller 14 against the face ofthe toothed wheel h.

The turn; table of, the gramophone or other rotary part of the musical instrument is provided with a commutator which is put in circuit with the electro-magnet 17, a. switch and a source of electric supply.

A scale 24 is mounted on, the bed a below the pointer 13.

In operation a sprocket wheel 25 on the spindle r is set in motion by the operation of the cinematograph 26' by means of a chain drive 27, and the gramophone or other mechanically operated musical instrument 28 is also set in motion. The rotation of the spindle 1' rotates the toothed wheel h and applies a turning effort to the ratchet wheel 0 through the coil spring j.

The operation of the electromagnet 17 re leases the ratchet wheel 6 step by step. It is arranged that the motive power driving the spindle 1' will tend to make the toothed wheelh rotate faster than the ratchet wheel a. But immediately the toothed Wheel 72.

does rotate faster than the ratchet wheel 6 it slides along the spindle b causing the rack 11 to slide with it and operating the bellcrank lever 6, 7 which applies the brake blocks 8 to the disc as and retards the cinematograph through the medium of the chain drive 27. Should the cinematograph be temporarily retarded to such an extent that the toothed wheel h rotates slower than the ratchet wheel 6 is allowed to rotate by the pawl 21, the spring y will uncoil and keep the ratchet wheel rotating at its full speed while the toothed wheel it will slide in the direction which will cause the pressure of the brake blocks 8 against the disc :19 to be lessened. The said pressure will continue to diminish until the cinematograph again synchronizes with the gramophone. The disc 00 is applied to the brake blocks 8 by the governor 9 if the speed of the sprocket wheel 25 exceeds a predetermined velocity.

The position of the indicator 13 on the scale 2t and the position of the film with respect to the music can be adjusted by altering the position of the sliding yoke 3 by the screwed bolt 4 which changes position of the brake 8.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 2- 1. Apparatus for automatically maintaining a predetermined ratio between the working speeds or two machines, said apparatus comprising an electric circuit in which impulses are produced by the rotation of one of the machines, a member rotated by the 7 other out thetwo machines, a member whose rate of rotation is adapted to be governed by the impulses produced in the electric circuit said two last mentioned members being adapted to rotate at equal speeds when the ratio between the working speeds of the two machines is the predetermined ratio, and a spring connecting the two last mentioned members whereby motion may be lost or gained between them, means'whereby' any differences of speed between the two last mentioned members cause one of them to move laterally, a retarding brake adapted to be continuously applied to rotating parts in mechanical connection with one of the two machines, and means whereby the said lateral movement oi the one member alters the pressure of the retarding brake so that the speed at which the braked machine is working is altered until the predetermined ratio between the working speeds of the two machines is attained.

2. Apparatus for automatically maintaintaining a predetermined ratio between the working speeds of two machines, said apparatus comprising an electric circuit in which impulses are produced by the rotation of one or the machines, a member rotated by the other of the two machines, a member whose rate of rotation is adapted to be governed'by the impulses produced in the electric circuit said two last mentioned members being adapted to rotate at equal speeds when the ratio between the working speeds of the two machines is the predetermined ratio, and a spring connecting the two last mentioned members whereby motion may be lost or gained between them, means whereby any difterences of speed between the two last mentioned members cause one of them to move laterally, a retarding brake adapted to be continuously applied to rotating parts in mechanical connection with one of the two machines, means whereby the said lateral movement of the one member alters the pressure of the retarding brake so that the speed at which the braked machine is working is altered until the predetermined ratio between the working speeds of the two machines is attained, means whereby the said lateral movement of the one member actuates a pointer to move along a graduated scale, means whereby the braked machine may be caused to accelerate or retard its speed of working for a short interval of time without altering the speed of the other machine, and means whereby after said acceleration or retardation the braked machine is automatically controlled so as to maintain the predetermined ratio between the working speeds or the two machines.

3. Apparatus for automatically governing the speed of rotation of one machine in such a manner as to maintain its speed at a predetermined constant proportion to that of a second machine, said means comprising a commutator on the latter machine, an electric circuit adapted to be interrupted by the commutator, a gear wheel mechanically rotated by the governedmachine, a ratchet wheel whose rotation is controlled by the interruptions of the electric circuit, said gear wheel and ratchet wheel being adapted to rotate at equal speeds when the speed of rotation of the governed machine is the predetermined proportion of that of the other machine, a spindle on which the gear wheel and ratchet wheel are mounted one of them being keyed to the spindle and the other adapted to screw loosely onto a threaded portion of the spindle, a helical spring connecting the gear wheel and ratchet wheel said spring being coiled round the spindle whereby motion may be lost or gained between the ratchet wheel and gear wheel, means whereby a difference of speed between the gear wheel and ratchet wheel causes one of them to move laterally, a retarding brake adapted to be continuously applied to rotating parts in mechanical connection with one of the two machines, a connecting link disposed be tween the retarding brake and the laterally moving wheel so that the lateral movement of the wheel increases or lessens the pressure of the retarding brake so as to maintain the 1,47s,aao 8 speed of the governed machine at the predeed for a short interval of time without altertermined proportion of the other machine, ing the speed of rotation of the other and means for alterin the efiective len 11 machine. 10 of the connecting link fietween the retarding In testimony whereof I have signed my 5 brake and the laterally moving wheel, means name to this specification.

whereby the speed of rotation of the governed machine may be accelerated or retard- HAROLD AUBREY JOHNSON. 

